GlossaryAdvanced
Slot
A fixed time window in which one validator may propose a block in proof of stake.
A slot is a fixed, regular time window during which a designated validator has the opportunity to propose a new block, used by many proof-of-stake networks to structure block production.
Multiple slots together make up an epoch; not every slot necessarily results in a block being produced, for example if the assigned validator is offline.
Examples
- A proof-of-stake network might have a new slot roughly every 12 seconds.
- An empty slot occurs when the assigned validator fails to propose a block during their turn.